You will act as a hands-on Software Architect within a Java-based integration landscape, with a strong focus on API design, API gateway patterns, and service orchestration. You combine architectural ownership with active involvement in solution delivery, supporting development teams both technically and structurally.
You operate at the intersection of high-level system design and concrete implementation, ensuring that integration solutions are scalable, secure, and aligned with modern development standards.
What you'll do
* Define and evolve the architecture of Java-based applications with a strong emphasis on API gateways, service exposure, and integration patterns.
* Actively contribute to the design and implementation of technical solutions, balancing architectural guidance with hands-on involvement.
* Support and structure the daily work of development teams by providing technical direction, coaching, and architectural guardrails.
* Promote and apply best practices in API design, service contracts, versioning, and security.
* Translate complex functional and technical requirements into coherent high-level architectures for distributed systems.
* Provide expert input on specific technical challenges while maintaining oversight of the broader system landscape.
* Collaborate closely with developers, DevOps teams, and stakeholders to ensure architectural consistency and solution quality.
What are we looking for?
* You have strong experience as a
Java Software Architect
or senior technical architect in complex application environments.
* You are highly proficient in
Java and J2EE
, with hands-on experience designing and exposing
REST and SOAP APIs
.
* You have solid experience working with
API specifications and documentation
, using tools such as
Swagger / OpenAPI
.
* You are familiar with
API gateway concepts
, including routing, security, throttling, and service mediation.
* You understand
distributed systems design
, integration patterns, and service-oriented or microservices architectures.
* You are comfortable working in
containerized and cloud-oriented environments
, including
Docker and OpenShift
, even if not as a primary DevOps specialist.
* You collaborate effectively in
Agile environments
and are used to working with tools such as
Git, Maven, Jenkins, and Jira
.
* You communicate fluently in
Dutch, French, and English
, and are comfortable aligning technical decisions with both developers and non-technical stakeholders.
What do we offer?
Location: Brussels (hybrid)
Start date: As soon as possible
Duration: Until 30 June 2026
Contract: Freelance or Permanent